Clark R. Denniston, MD

I decided to start a career in nutrition and dietetics to work in partnership with interdisciplinary teams that aim to develop therapeutic interventions for chronic conditions. I enjoy developing nutrition care plans and teaching people about the importance of diet and nourishment in relation to chronic disease management. The areas of medical nutrition therapy I am most interested in are diabetes, overweight/obesity, cardiovascular disease, renal nutrition, reproduction, and gastrointestinal disease. Outside of work, I like to create new recipes that utilize fruits and vegetables and aim to produce great flavor with quality nutrition in every bite. I exercise often and enjoy hiking, strength training and dancing. I love expressing my creativity through interior décor and do-it-yourself projects. I always encourage people to increase their knowledge of nutrition and learn ways on how to practice their acquired knowledge. Sustaining healthy dietary behavior modification is vital in achieving any healthcare related goal. During my nutrition consultations, I provide educational materials that reinforce messages about healthy eating, teach skills essential for making dietary change, and provide information on how to sustain behavior change.

I became a doctor to improve the health of our community by providing patient centered primary care to all individuals. I believe that primary care is about taking care of individuals as a whole and not just the medical conditions that one may have. I enjoy partnering with my patients to develop care plans that address their health as a whole. In my spare time, I love spending time with my family, traveling, practicing yoga, meditating, hiking, cooking, exploring new restaurants and listening to live music.

I am a triple Tar Heel, having received my bachelor's, medical and public health degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to medical school, I worked as a counselor and teacher for troubled teenagers on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and then as a Peace Corps volunteer in rural health in the Amazon Jungle of Ecuador. I have wanted to be a physician since I was seven years old. Although I took a round-about pathway, my life as a doctor is amazing. I love nothing better than seeing patients, from birth to the end of life and everything in between. I consider it a true privilege to serve my community, and every day I thank my lucky stars for what I do. When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with my wife, four children and rescue dog. I enjoy hiking, fishing, reading, movies, gardening, playing games and traveling.